Barber&#39;s hair-cutting machine



E. V. N. TOMASULO. BARBERS HAIR CUTTING MACHINE. APPLICATION FILED JUNE 21, 1919.

1,366,975. Patented Feb. 1, 1921.

4 SHEETS-SHEET I.

Z3 7 Z5 j #0 40 if 5 as k 4 44 E. V. N. TOMASULO. BARBER'S HAIR cumws MACHINE. APPLICATION FiLED mm. 1919.

1,366,975. Patented Feb. 1, 1921.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

E. V. N. TOMASULO.

BARBER'S HAIR CUTTING MACHINE. APPLICATION FILED JUNE 27, 1919.

1,366,975. Patented Feb. 1, 1921.

4 SHEETSSHEET 3.

W i7 27) W V i t gorzy.

E. V. N. TOMASULO.

BARBERS HAIR CUTTING MACHINE. APPLICATION men JUNE27, 1919.

1,366,975. Patented Feb. 1, 1921.

4 SHEETSSHEET 4- UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

BARBERS HAIR-CUTTING MACHINE.

Application filed June 27,

T 0 all whom it may concern Be it known that I, EPIFANIO V. N. ToMAs Lo, a subject of the Kingof Italy, and a resident of'Cincinnati, in the county of Hamilton and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements 1n Barbers". Hair-Cutting Machines, of which the following is alspecification.

My invention relates to shears, clippers or the like and more; particularly to power driven shears or clippers; and especially to devices of this character for barbers" use.

The objects of my invention are to add to the efficiency, safety and COIIVGIHBIICQ of use of devices of this character; and to s1m-. plify the construction and operation of such devices. Other objects will appear in the course of the ensuing description.

My invention consists in the combinat on of parts and in the details of constructlon and arrangement of parts as will hereinafter be more fully described and claimed.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a plan view of a hair-clipper embodying my invention; 1

Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the same;

Fig. 3 is an inverted plan view of the same- 4 is a handle-end view of the same;

Fig. 5 is a longitudinal vertical section on a plane corresponding to the line 55 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 6. is an inverted plan view of this clipper but with the bottom-plate-and lower cutter removed to disclose the interior details Fig. 7 is a vertical longitudinal section on a plane corresponding to the line 10-10 of Fig. 8 illustrating a hair-clipper embodyin other modifications;

. Fig. 8 is an inverted plan view of the same with the bottom-plate and the lower cutter omitted to disclose the interior details;

Fig. 9 is a view similar to Fig. 8 but showing another modification;

Fig. 10 is a similar view showing a further modification;

Fig. 11 is a similar view showing a still further modification;

Fig. 12 is a vertical longitudinal section on a plane corresponding to the line 1515 of Fig. 11; and

Fig. 13 is a vertical cross-section on a plane corresponding to the line 1616 of Fig. 11

In the example of Figs. 1 to 6, inclusive,

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. 1,1921.

1919. Serial No. 301,057;

the hair-clipper comprises the lower cutter l with the teeth 2 along its front edge and the upper cutter 3 with the teeth 4 on its front edge overlapping the teeth 2 of the lower cutter 1 and slidable longitudinally of said lower cutter. This is the usual-arrangement in clippers of the kind with which my invention is more especially concerned.

5 has a downwardly extended pedestal 9 and the rear end of the lower cutter 1 rests on this pedestal with a lug 10 of the pedestal engaging in a middle recess in the rear end of the cutter 1. Also near the front edge of the lower cutter l a lug 11 projects from the front end of the casing-head 5 down through a slot in the cutter 1; the upper cutter 3 having a slot 12 through which the lug 11 extends and which is long enough to permit the required sliding of the cutter 3. A tubular stud 13 projects down from the middle of the casing-head 5 toward the lower cutter 1 and a bolt 14 passes up through the cutter 1 and through this stud 13 and out through the top of the casinghead 5 where it receives a nut 15 by means of which the lower cutter 1 is supported up against the opposite lower edges of the casing-head 5 and against the pedestal 9; the lugs 10 and 11 preventing thecutter 1 from turning around on its mounting. These details are all similar to those of the well known make of hair-clipper and are herein set forth merely to facilitate the description of the novel details of my invention associated therewith.

Ordinarily in this kind of hair-clipper a bell-crank is journaled around the hollow stud 13 and has an arm engaging with the upper cutter 3 and another arm which'is extended out of the casing-head to formone of the handles of the clipper; the other handle being fixed to the casing-head. Part of this bell-crank is involved in some of the examples of my invention hereinafter to be described; but in the present example this bellcrank is entirely omitted and a lever 16 takes its place. In the kind of clipper here exemplified, the upper cutter 3 has a recess 17 extending back from the middle of its slot 12 in which a downward projection of the bell-crank engages, when used, to reciprocate the cutter 3. This lever 16 has the downward projection 18 in this recess in exactly the same way.

The operating mechanism with which this lever is associated for reciprocating this cutter is contained in the main casing 19 with the front end of which the casing-head 5 is continuous. This casing 19 has its sides substantially parallel interiorly and unitary with the sides of the casing-head 5 at the front and with the relatively thick rear end 20. The top 21 of this casing is entirely closed and continuous with the top of the casing-head 5 and the casing sides and the rear end 20. The casing-head 5 is directed upward from the main casing part 19 in conformity with the position the cutting head has relatively to the handles in the ordinary manually operated clipper.

My invention is an improvement over the ordinary clipper in the disposition of its bottom surfaces. The head part. as for example the casing-head 5, and the handle part, as for example the casing 19,are not only inclined upward at a substantial angle to each other, preferably about forty-five degrees, as just mentioned, and as clearly shown in Figs. 2, 5, 7 and 12, but their hottoms are made to follow these inclinations generally. They have at their junction a downwardly convex longitudinal curvature of ample radius, with the major portions of the bottoms of the head part and handle part receding upward from this curved junction at the substantial angle mentioned. but with the handle-part bottom, contiguous to the curve, not concave, but of ample prominence, as for instance the flat shape herein shown. This constitutes a sufficient supportfor the machine against the neck or side of the head while the head part, with its cutters 1 and 3, or other hair-cutting means, is inclined out away from the head by reason of the handle part being swung in by the action of the barbers hand, as the machine is passed up the sides of the head from the neck toward the top of the head. It affords a practical means whereby the hair can be cut of regularly increasing length from the neck up to and including the top of the head, without the necessity of using hand scissors to smooth the hair-cut or'to finish at the top of the head. The curved junction and the contiguous prominent or fiat part of the casing or handle-partbottom thus constitute a heel or fulcrum for accurate control of this swing- .ing or inclining action of the barber, so that he can produce very smooth work with ease and rapidity. It results in a saving of time of fully fifty per cent. from that required in hand cutting, either with scissors or with any clippers. either hand-operated or power-operated, which do-not have the described formation of the bottom of the device.

Exteriorly at the right side adjacent to the rear end 20 the casing has the laterally projected fingerup 22 and'the rearwardly somewhat inwar 1y directed handle 23; and at the left side near this rear end 20, the casing has the thumb-grip 24 curving upwardly and outwardly from the top of the casing, and the handle 25 projecting rearwardly and curving inwardly over toward the other handle 23. This casing is wide enough and its gri )S 22 and 24 and handles 23 and 25 are so disposed that it is practically equivalent to the handles of ordinary manually operated clippers with their corresponding grips.

The lever 16 extends rearwardly and downwardly substantially parallel with the utters 1 and 3 and curves around into the inside of the main casing part 19. Near the front end of this main casing part 19, near the right side. there is a fulcrum stud '26 fixed to the casing top 21 and extending down inside the casing; and the lever 16 has a hub 27 fitting on this stud up against a suitable bearing on the under side of the top 21. This lever 16 projects back of this hub 27 and terminates in a fork 28 near the rear end of the casing19. A spindle stud 29 is also fixed to the casing top 21 and projects down like the fulcrum stud 26. A worm gear 30 has its hub 31 fitting on this stud 29 up against a suitable bearing on the under side of the casing top 21, and on the lower side of this gear 30 is an eccentric 32 fitting between the members of the fork 28 of the lever 16.

Q1 worm 33 is cut on a shaft 34 and lies over to the left side of the casing; meshing with the worm gear 30 which is journaled somewhat to the right of the center of the casing to make room for this worm. The front end of this shaft 34 has a bearing 35 fixed to the casing top and side. The part of the shaft 34 to the rear of the worm bears in a sleeve 36 that has a reduced threaded part 37 screwed through a threaded opening in the thick rear end 20 of the casing over near the handle 25. This threaded part 37 bears against the worm and with the bearing 35 at the other end of the worm limits the end play of the shaft and worm.

The rear end part of the shaft 34 has a central bore with slots 38 at opposite sides opening through the ends of the shaft. The sleeve 36 extends rearwardly ast the rear end of the shaft 34 and has its interior opening enlarged from the end of said shaft out to the rear end of the sleeve. Extending through each side of this part of the sleeve 36 is a detent 39 with a knob 40 on its outer end and a s ring 41 compressed between a collar 42 0 the detent and the end of a small casing 43 that surrounds the detent and spring and is fixed to the outer side of the sleeve '36. This vdetent normally projects some distance inside this part of the sleeve.

A flexible shaft 44, which may be of any usual construction and which it is understood has one end suitably connected to some kind of motor device, preferably an electric motor, has the other end, shown in the draw ing, provided with a hub 45 having a circumferential groove 46; and from the center of the end of this hub 45 the bit 47 projects forward and has opposite radially projecting spurs 48. This bit 47 enters the central bore of the shaft 34 whose side slots 38 receive the spurs 48 while the hub 45 occupies v the engagement of its projection or nose 18 in the recess 17 of the upper cutter 3, reciprocates this cutter so that its teeth4 coact with the teeth 2 of the lower cutter 1 to cut the hair coming beween them as the front end of the cutter is advanced through the hair in the usual manner.

The very considerable reduction in speed afforded permitsof the use of a high-speed motor without producing an objectionably high speed of reciprocation of the cutter or blade 3; and the eccentric 32 can be so disposed to the wheel 30 that any desired extent of reciprocation may be imparted to this cutter or blade 3.

The bottom of the casing 19 and the bottom of that part of the casing-head 5 not closed by the lower cutter 1 are completely closed by a bottom-plate 49, whichin its rear part is flat to fit the straight edges of the casing sides and rear end 20 and which has its front end part curved upward and recessed properly to fit snugly around the rear end of the lower cutter 1. It is secured in place by screws 50 and 51 passing through its rear end part into the lower edge of the thick rear end 20 of the casing and by a screw 52 passing up through its front curved part into the pedestal 9. The upper or inner surface of this bottom-plate 49 bears against the lower end of the hub 27 of the lever 16 and the lower end of the hub 31 'of the worm gear 30 and eccentric 32 and holds these elements on their respective studs 26 and 29. The lever 16 curves around the pedestal 9 and hollow stud 13 to its place of engagement with the cutter or blade 3 in the proper way to clear those parts when swinging in one direction and to clear the adjacent side of the casing-head 5 when swinging oppositely.

It' will be seen that the operative mechanism is extremely simple and that those arts most requiring lubrication and which are readily clogged by the out hair and which would readily entangle themselves with the uncut hair or which, if allowed to project, might injure the ears or other parts of the persons head, are all fully inclosed in the casing19 and the head 5 by means of the bottom-plate 49 in conjunction with the lower cutter 1. This prevents soiling of the persons hair by the lubricant and prevents clogging and undue wear on the mechanism by out hair, dust and other particles; and does not injure the person in any way, but on the contrary, permits a comfortable, smooth surface on all parts that are to come in contact with the persons hair and head.

The wide casing not only provides room enough for operating parts of ample size and a worm gear reduction of ample ratio but also disposes its grips and handles, as before stated, in such a way that the barber may handle this clipper as readily as the ordinary hand-operated clippers to which he has become thoroughly accustomed. This greatly adds to the ease and safety of operation because of the greater security with which the barber can hold the clipper without having anything more to learn than he is already familiar with as a result of using the ordinary hand-operated clippers. The

clipper is readily attach-ed to and detached on the side of, the sleeve 36 so that there is no a preciable projection above or below the 'han les 23 and 25 between which these parts lie. Also these parts being located next to the left handle 25, they and the flexible shaft 44 areout of the way of the ends of the fingers of the barber, which curve around the opposite handle 23, while at this side merely the heel of the thumb-lies along the outside of the handle 25 with the thumb underthe grip 24. At the opposite side the finger grip 22 usually comes between the two middle fin' ers.

The clipper just described is suitable for original constructions; conforming as it does to the corresponding essential details of a well known make of clipper but having This groove 46 extending entirely -mounted on its hollow stud 13 in the casinghead and comprising the forward arm 57 that engages in the recess 17 of the upper cutter 3 and the laterally rearwardly inclined fork arm 58 at the right side of the device, terminating about where the casinghead 5 merges into the main casing 19. The worm 33 and the bearings therefor and the detachable operative connection for the flexible shaft 44, at the rear of the casing outside thereof, are the same as in the first example. The worm gear 30' meshes with the worm 33 and is similar to the gear 30 of the first example, except that its eccentric 32 has the hub 31' keyed'in the central opening of the gear 30' and the eccentric 32 has its periphery beveled or undercut to fit down in the correspondingly beveled inside of an eccentric strap 59 whereby this strap 59 is held in place. The strap extends forwardly and has transversely separated members between which a link 60 is pivoted. A connecting-head 61 is pivoted between the members of the forked arm 58 of the bell-crank and has rearwardly extended transversely separated members between which the forward end of the link 60 is pivoted. By means of this connection, the worm gear 30 oscillates the bell-crank without loss of motion, although the bell-crank and the gear are journaled on axes inclined to each other on account of the inclination of the casinghead 5 to the main casing 19. The details of operation and the advantages resulting therefrom are substantially the same as those hereinbefore pointed out for the other examples.

In; Fig. 9 the bell-crank and its connecting-head 61 are the same as in Figs. 7 and 8 and "the eccentric strap 59" and its connecting link 60" are similar to those in this last example, as is also the eccentric 32 and its hub 31" connecting it to the gear wheel and holding the strap in place. But instead of the worm gear 30' this gear wheel is a bevel gear 30" journaled on the stud 29" which is located in the middle of the casing 19"-and meshes with a bevel pinion 33 fixed on the inner end of a shaft 34" that is journaled in the middle off'the rear end 20 of said casing and has its detachable operative connection to the flexible shaft 44 outside said casing? in a sleeve 36". This sleeve is here integral with the casing, because the shaft 34 does not have another bearing inside the casing and may be inserted into the sleeve from the outside and there have the pinion 33" forced onto it where it projects inside the casing. This shaft 44 preferably has a small flange 62 around its outer endcoming a ainst the shoulder in the sleeve 36" to imit inward end play of the shaft. Otherwise the construction of the casing is as in the preceding examples.

In ig. 10 the connecting head 61" in the bell-crank arm 58 has the modified link 63 pivoted between its members and has on its rear end part a swivel head 64 pivoted to swing thereon in a transverse plane and having upstanding members between which is pivoted the forward end of a sliding rod 65. which has a sliding bearing in a lug 66 inside the casing 19" and has to the rear of said bearing a projection 65' to the left. A cylindrical cam 68 forms part of the shaft 69 and has a groove 70 running around its periphery in a plane inclined to its axis and receiving the projection 65' of the rod 65. The part of the shaft 69 forwardly of the cam 68 has a bearing 71 projecting down from the casing top and the rear end part of the shaft 69 projects back through the sleeve 36 which is the same as that of Figs. 1 to 6 and screws through the back 2O of the casing 19 in the same way; except that this cam and its shaft arelocated in the middle of the casing and the bearings therefor are accordingly located in the middle instead of at the left side of the casing. Rotation of the cam 68 reciprocates the rod 65 which through its flexible connection oscillates the bell-crank to reciprocate the cuttel 3.

in Figs. 11, 12 and 13 the casing 19 is like that of Fig. 9 with the integral sleeve 36": but the shaft 34 journaled therein has its sleeve 62 detachably secured to its outer end in the sleeve 36" and has on its inner end the eccentric knob 72 integral therewith. This shaft is slipped into its hearing from the inside of the casing before the sleeve 62 is attached. The upper cutter 3 has the rearwardly extended arm 73 near its left end which has the u turned projection 73. This arm is prefera 1y formed integral with the cutter. A lever 74 is fulcrumed on a stud 75 that projects down from the middle of the underside of the casing top 21" and curves to the left and extends foiwvardly and has a slot 76 in its front end part which slidably receives the upward projection 73' of the cutter 3'. The lever 74 extends rearwardly from its fulcrum stud 75 and has on its rear end a fork 77 whose members flank the eccentric knob 72. Thus rotation of the shaft 34: and this knob 72 oscillates the lever 74, which through the medium of the arm '73 reciprocates the cutter 3.

Leeann Minor modifications may occur-in-r adapt ing the device to different conditions or for other reasons. In any embodiment of the invention the operating mechanism is secluded from the outside of the cutting mechanism so that the lubricant is kept in and the cut hairand other clogging substances are kept out as hereinbefore fully set forth; and in all of these, areboth th customer and the barber effectively guarde against injury and the device is held with the same convenience that the barber experiences in holding the familiar hand-operated clipper. Those examples utilizing the worm gearing are" especially desirable, because the motor may run at high speed and therefore need not be so large and expensive. On the other hand, when it is desired to use a relatively large lowespeed motor, those examples having the rotary means directly connected to the flexible shaft, as in Figs. 10 to 13, inclusive, may be found suitable. The bevel ear'mechanism of Fig. 9 provides less re uction than the examples of Figs. 1 to 8, inclusive, but more than the directly connected mecha nisms of the succeeding examples.

While certain constructional details are deemed preferable in connection with my invention, and I have shown and described these rather specifically'in elucidating the construction and use of my invention, as is required, I do not wish to be understood as being limited to such precise showing and description, but having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is 1. In a barbers hair-cutting machine, a

casing having an upwardly curved open front end part with a continuously downwardly convex bottom, and a main part with its bottom substantially tangent to said convex bottom, hair-cutting means supported on said end part, extending forwardly therefrom at a material upward nclination relatively to said main-part bot-' tom, with its bottom substantially tangent to said convex bottom, and operating means in said main part ofsaid casing, operatively' connected to said hair-cutting means througli said upwardly curved open front end part, and comprising means. for operative connection to motive means, for. operating said hair-cutting means by mechanical power.

2. In a barbers hair-cuttingmachine, a casing'having an upwardly curved open front end part with a continuously downwardl convex bottom, and a substantially straig t elongated main part with a fiat bottom substantiall tangent to said convex bottom and o substantially the full width thereof, hair-cutting means supported on said end part, extending forwardly therefrom-at a material upward inclination relatively to said main part, with a flat bottom substantially tangent to said convex bottom, and operating means in said main part of said casing, operatively connected to said hair-cutting means through said upwardly tom substantially tangent to said convex bot' tom and of substantially the full width thereof, said casing being adapted to contain operating means, and a support on said end part for hair-cutting means to be operatively connected with said operating means throu h said open end part.

4.. Iii a barbers hair-cutting machine, a casing having an upwardly curved open front end part and a substantially straight main part, rotary means in said main part, and a lever having a fulcrum in said machine extending substantially parallel with the axis of said rotary means, said lever being engaged by said rotary means and thereby oscillated, and extending at an inclination, through said open front end part, and haircutting means mounted on said front end part and engaged and operated by said lever. 5: In a barbers hair-cutting machine, a handle-part and a head part at one end of said handle part, rectilinearly reciprocatable hair-cutting means comprised in said head part, an upright tension element in said head part whereby pressure is exerted on said hair-cutting means, rotary means in said handle part, and a lever having a fulcrum in said machine distinct from said tension element, said lever being oscillated by said'rotary means and reciprocating said hair-cutting means, and the bottoms of said head part and said handle part having a downwardly convex longitudinal curvature at their junction, and receding upward from said-junction at a substantial angle to each other. c

6. In a barbers hair-cutting machine, a. handle-part and a head part joining one .end of said handle part, having substan' tially flatbottoms inclined upwardly to each other, hair-cutting means in said head part, reciprocatable rectilinearly in a plane substantially parallel with said flat bottom of said head part, a tension element in said said rotatable operating means and reciprocating said cutting means.

7. In a barbers hair-cutting machine, a handle-part and a head part joining one end of said handle part, having substantially flat bottoms inclined upwardly to each other, hair-cutting means in said head part, reciprocatable rectilinearly in a plane substantially parallel with said flat bottom of said head part, a tension element in said head part, extending substantially perpendicular to said plane, an eccentric in said handle part, having its axis substantially perpendicular to said flat bottom of said handle part, a lever having a fulcrum in said machine substantially parallel with said axis of' said eccentric, said lever engaging with said hair-cutting means for reciprocation thereof, and comprising members flanking said eccentric for oscillation of said lever. and means for rotating said eccentric.

8. In a barbers hair-cutting machine, a handle-part and a head part joining one end of said handle part, having substantially flat bottoms inclined upwardly to each other. hair-cutting means in said head part, reciprocatable rectilinearly in a plane substantially parallel with said flat bottom of said head part, a tension element in said head part, extending substantially perpendicular to said plane, an eccentric in said handle part, having its axis substantially perpendicular to said fiat bottom of said handle part, a lever having a fulcrum in said machine substantially parallel with said axis of said eccentric, said lever engaging with said hair-cutting means for reciprocation thereof, and comprising members flanking said eccentric for oscillation of said lever,

distinct handles extending rearwardly past said bottom of said handle part, and means near the rear end of said bottom, between said handles, for operatively connecting a flexible shaft to said machine for rotating said eccentric.

9. In a power-operated device of the characterdescribed, transversely reciprocatable cutting means, a casing head supporting said cutting means, a casing extending rearwardly from said head and extending at a substantial angle therefrom in an upright plane, eccentric rotary means in said casing, and a lever engaging with said cutting means and extending through said head and then extending at a different angle inside said casing and fulcrumed in said casing and omprising members engaging opposite sides of said eccentric means, whereby said lever is oscillated and reciprocates said cutting means.

10. In a power-operated device of the character described. transversely reciprocatable cutting means. a casing head supporting said cutting means, a casing extending rearwardly from said head and extending at a substantial angle therefrom in an upright plane, eccentric rotary means in said casing, and a lever engaging with said cutting means and extending through said head and then extending at a different angle inside said casing and fulcrumed in said casing and comprising members engaging opposite sides of said eccentric means, whereby said lever is is oscillated and reciprocates said cutting means, and comprising a detachable plate supporting said eccentric means in its rotary relation and supporting said lever on its fulcrum.

ll. In a device of the character described, cutting means, a casing joining said cutting means and extending rearwardly from said cutting means at a substantial angle thereto in an upright plane, rotary means in said caslng, operative connecting means from said rotary means to said cutting means, inside said casing, and a closure for said casing, consisting of a plate having a flat surface engaging said operative connecting means within the limits of said casing and holding said connecting means in its operative position in said casin l2. In a device of the character described, cutting means, a casing joining said cutting means and extending rearwardly from said cutting means at a substantial angle thereto in an upright plane, rotary means in said casing, operative connecting means overlapping said rotary means and operatively engaging therewith and operatively engaging Vltll said cutting means, and a closure for said casing consisting of a plate having a flat surface engaging said operative connecting means within the limits of said casing and holding said connecting means in its overlapping position relatively to said rotary means.

EPIFANIO V. N. TOMASULO.

Witnesses JAMES N. RAMSEY, CLARENCE PERDEW. 

